A Tale of Two Continents: Report from the Africa-Europe Board Team Jason Scott Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board Brent Robertson Nebraska Wheat Board

Overview Meet the Team Country Overview, Meetings & Lessons Learned –Nigeria & Ghana – Jason Scott –Spain & Italy – Brent Robertson

The Team Left to Right: Jason Scott (Maryland), Julia Debes (USW), Brent Robertson (Nebraska), Larry Hunn (California)

Nigeria Prior to 2013/14, largest importer of HRW seven years running Behind only Southeast Asia in per capita consumption of instant noodles

Nigeria Relationship based market West Africa is a huge growth market Need FAS to maintain a strong presence – moving to Ghana Challenges – Government, Turkish Flour, Training, Cassava issue Opportunities/Strengths – pasta/instant noodles, vertical integration, growth market

Ghana Rapidly expanding market for bread and instant noodles Small-sized bakers = big competition for mills AND origins Strong Canadian preference

Ghana FAS presence very strong = Kurt Seifarth Small bakers who do not change their recipe and also do not always use a standard recipe Consistency is key Challenges – Monetary policy, maintaining consistency Opportunities/Strengths – pasta/instant noodles, vertical integration

African Lessons Learned Nigeria and Ghana are very similar markets although Ghana is much smaller in terms of total market size. USW staff has great relationships and were very impressive throughout the trip. New Ag Attaché will be an asset. FAS move to Ghana may hinder relationships in Nigeria Cassava issue seems to be a non issue Vertical integration will continue in both markets

Spain 99% of mills are family owned Flat consumption = milling over-capacity Uses HRS for high quality artisan products

Spain Because of over- capacity, mills have to diversify Increase in frozen dough and artisan breads good for HRS Would purchase SRW if duty was lifted for low & med protein wheat

Italy Pasta, pasta, pasta + pandora and panettone Quality = most important parameter All mills in Italy are family owned

Italy - Meetings Millers adding lots of vital gluten = price! Sustainability increasingly important Barilla – looking for improvement in protein quality for northern durum

European Lessons Learned Millers are looking for how to specialize –Bigger is not necessarily better –Adding in specialty ingredients Sustainability measures increasingly important for millers –Water– even though cooking pasta is highest impact! –Mixed messages on biotech Barilla

Questions?

Thank You!